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Warning To Dog Owners As Dog Dies Falling Through The Ice

31/Jan/2019

At 12.23 hours firefighters from Chesterfield, Kingsway and Nottinghamshire’s Highfield station attended a frozen pond at Hardwick Hall Park to assist in the rescue of a small dog that had fallen through the ice.

Working alongside the park rangers, firefighters used a small boat to get to the dog that had run onto the ice and fallen through where the ice was thin. Tragically the dog died as a result of the freezing cold water.

Station Manager Paul Green who attended today’s incident said: “Sadly crews have today attended a frozen pond to assist with the rescue of a small dog that had fallen through the ice. Sadly the dog had died as a result of the cold water.

“This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder to dog owners to keep their dogs safe from danger and on the lead at all times when near water.

“As temperatures have dropped, many lakes, ponds and other water ways have quickly frozen over providing dogs with an enticing opportunity to explore. This can soon lead to disaster when the ice becomes thin and they fall through to the freezing water below.

“If a dog, or any other animal does fall through the ice, owners should resist the urge to enter the water to try and save the animal, as this could lead to the owner themselves requiring an emergency rescue. In the event of an emergency please call 999.

Station Manager Green went on to say: “I would also encourage any land owners who may have ponds, lakes and other water ways on their land to put up safety signs reminding dog owners to keep their animals on a lead during the freezing weather.”

For more information about keeping safe during the winter weather visit www.derbys-fire.gov.uk or follow @DerbyshireFRS on Twitter and like us on Facebook @DerbyshireFRS